1985 Niles–Wheatland tornado

F5 tornado in Ohio and Pennsylvania, U.S. June 2026 Wheatland F5 tornado.jpg The tornado shortly after leaving Wheatland, Pennsylvania 1 hour May 31, 1985, 6:30 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00) May 31, 1985, 7:30 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00) atl 450 yd m 47 mi km ≥261 mph (≥420 km/h) F5 18 310 1985 >$250 million (1985 USD) Newton Falls, Niles, Hakes Corners, Coalburg, Hermitage Wheatland, Hoagland 1985 United States-Canada tornado outbreak and Tornadoes of 1985 On the afternoon of May 31, 1985, a violent and long-lived F5 tornado, the easternmost in United States history,Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/event-details/10098103 25 January 2026 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)Storms of the Century: 1985 Ohio/Pennsylvania Tornado Outbreak http://www.weather.com/newscenter/specialreports/sotc/honorable/1985.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080725230646/http://www.weather.com/newscenter/specialreports/sotc/honorable/1985.html 25 July 2008 26 January 2026 The Weather Channel struck parts of northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania, including Newton Falls, Niles, and Coalburg in Ohio, and Wheatland in Pennsylvania. The tornado caused 310 injuries, 18 deaths, and $250 million of damages. The tornado was the strongest tornado of the 1985 United States–Canada tornado outbreak, being the only tornado to obtain F5 status and having maximum sustained winds of anywhere between 261 and 318 mph.3 June 2025 May 31, 1985 Great Lakes tornado outbreak https://www.tornadotalk.com/may-31-1985-tornado-outbreak/ 25 January 2026 Tornado Talk The tornado touched down 8 miles km west of Newton Falls at approximately 6:30 pm on May 31, 1985. The F0 tornado tracked eastward, closing in on Newton Falls. Ten minutes later at 6:40 pm, the tornado struck Newton Falls at F3 intensity, where several buildings would be heavily damaged. The strengthening storm continued to track eastward. At 7:00 pm, the tornado struck Niles at F5 intensity. Several people were killed and dozen of buildings were damaged or destroyed in the town, including the Niles Park Plaza and a petroleum tank farm. After devastating Niles, the storm shrunk as it passed over Coalburg. At approximately 7:15 pm, the tornado struck Wheatland at F5 intensity, 59 homes were damaged and over 100 buildings were leveled, killing six and injuring 32 other people. The tornado dissipated about 3 miles km SSW of Mercer, Pennsylvania at 7:30 pm. Overall, the F5 tornado lasted for approximately one hour. Meteorological synopsis 1985 United States–Canada tornado outbreak#Meteorological synopsis Tornado summary The tornado first touched down in Ohio near the Ravenna Arsenal in Portage County around 6:30 PM EDT. Gathering strength, it moved quickly into Newton Falls in Trumbull County causing F3 to F4 damage through much of the town. While nearly 400 homes were heavily damaged or destroyed, no fatalities were recorded in Newton Falls, due to the storm-readiness of local authorities and its tornado siren.http://www.may311985tornadoes.com/Newton_Falls_OH_News/pages/07_Clayton_Reakes.htm 07 Clayton Reakes May311985tornadoes.com May 31, 1985 July 28, 2013http://www.ohiohistory.org/etcetera/exhibits/swio/pages/content/1985_tornadoes.htm 1985: Northeastern Tornadoes Ohiohistory.org July 28, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120704075916/http://www.ohiohistory.org/etcetera/exhibits/swio/pages/content/1985_tornadoes.htm July 4, 2012 Additional homes were completely destroyed as the tornado struck the north side of Lordstown. Grazulis Thomas P Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991 The Tornado Project of Environmental Films St. Johnsbury, Vermont 1-879362-03-1 July 1993 Continuing east, the tornado reached F5 intensity as it tore through the north side of Niles. Hundreds of homes in the Niles area were destroyed, including several homes with anchor bolts that were swept away with the debris scattered downwind. The Niles Park Plaza shopping center was completely leveled and partially swept away at F5 intensity, with several of the fatalities occurring at that location. Steel girders were buckled at the shopping center, and a nearby retirement home and a skating rink were leveled as well. As the tornado struck an industrial area in Niles, large 30 ft m on tall metal petroleum storage tanks (each weighing 75000 lb kg on) were torn from where they were anchored and thrown, some of which were tossed or bounced considerable distances. One of the tanks was found in the middle of a road, 60 yd m on from where it originated. The tornado weakened slightly as it tore through the north side of Hubbard and through the center of Coalburg, though many additional homes were still leveled in those areas.http://extremeplanet.me/tag/niles-ohio-1985-tornado/ Niles ohio 1985 tornado | July 9, 2014 March 13, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150313032524/http://extremeplanet.me/tag/niles-ohio-1985-tornado/ dead http://www.erh.noaa.gov/cle/office/localinterest/1985Tornado/storm_data.pdf Tornado Outbreak in the United States and Canada on May 31, 1985 Stiegler Duane 1985 NWS Cleveland, Ohio NOAA July 8, 2014 As the tornado crossed the state line and reached Wheatland, Pennsylvania, it was a half-mile (0.8 km) wide and had regained F5 strength. A steel-frame trucking plant in Wheatland was obliterated and partially swept away at F5 intensity, as the building's steel girder frame was mangled into a pile and pushed off of the foundation. At nearby Wheatland Sheet and Tube, sections of pavement were scoured from the parking lot, and shards of sheet metal and routing slips were left wedged beneath the remaining asphalt. Ninety-five percent of Wheatland's business and residential area were destroyed. According to Storm Data from the National Weather Service, the destruction of the town "resembled that of a bombed-out battle field." Continuing east, the tornado weakened slightly but remained violent as it struck Hermitage, damaging or destroying 71 homes along with the town's airport, destroying several hangars and planes. A wing from one of the planes was found 10 mi km on away in Mercer. Another trucking steel processing plant was heavily damaged in Hermitage as well. The tornado then destroyed 15 homes and damaged 30 others in the Greenfield area before finally dissipating. In Ohio, it was the deadliest tornado since the Xenia F5 during the Super Outbreak of April 3, 1974. The tornado was also captured on camera by several residents. Impact In Niles, the Niles Park Plaza was leveled and swept away, where most fatalities were reported. A roller-skating rink and a newly built nursing home were said to receive F5 damage. Across the street from the plaza there was a house with three elderly women–all of which were reported as dead. In the plaza's parking lot, there were flattened cars, referred to as 'pancakes', one of which was thrown over a mile (1.6 km). According to locals, at least 100 homes were destroyed and over 1,000 were damaged. thumb|234x234px|F3 damage as seen in Newton Falls after the tornado It was reported that one woman had a splintered piece of telephone pole that impaled her to the ground. Another woman had her scalp torn off so deeply that it wasn't bleeding excessively. In Newton Falls, the tornado reportedly heavily damaged several homes at F3 intensity, some of which were frame homes. No fatalities happened in Newton Falls due to its tornado siren.May 31, 1985: Northeastern Tornadoes http://www.ohiohistory.org/etcetera/exhibits/swio/pages/content/1985_tornadoes.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120704075916/http://www.ohiohistory.org/etcetera/exhibits/swio/pages/content/1985_tornadoes.htm 4 July 2012 26 January 2026 Ohio History At least 8 fatalities and 250 injuries were reported in Ohio. In Wheatland, 99% of the town's industry was completely wiped out. The Wheatland Sheet and Tube factory was partially swept away and its steel girders 'twisted like a pretzel'. At least 50 homes were completely swept away and hundreds more damaged. Seven fatalities and 32 injuries were reported. In Hermitage, a trucking company and a maintenance garage containing 20 vehicles was completely leveled. Four planes were reported demolished at the Hermitage Airport. In total, 18 people were killed and 310 were injured throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. The National Weather Service made a damage estimate of $250 million in nominal USD, equivalent to $753 million when adjusted for inflation. Damage in Wheatland was described as the following:The destruction at Wheatland was so complete that most of the town resembled that of a bombed-out battle field. Aftermath The 1985 United States–Canada tornado outbreak had a total impact of 90 fatalities and 875 injuries.27 May 2015 May 31, 1985 Tornado Outbreak: 30th Anniversary https://www.weather.gov/ctp/tornadooutbreak_may311985#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20since%20May%2031,strong%20late-spring%20cold%20front. 26 January 2026 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) This made the outbreak the deadliest tornado outbreak worldwide since the 1974 Super Outbreak, and maintained its mark until the 2011 Super Outbreak; as well as being the third most eventful tornado outbreak in Canadian history in terms of total storms. The tornado remains the latest F5 tornado in Ohio and Pennsylvania and the easternmost F5 tornado in the United States to-date. See also 1985 Barrie tornado – Another deadly tornado from the same outbreak References Category:1985 in Ohio Category:1985 in Pennsylvania Category:1985 natural disasters in the United States 1985-05-31 1985-05-31 1985-05-31 05-31 Category:May 1985 in the United States